Telltale mechanism for tank cars



Jan. 14, 1930. R. awlLm-:R

V TELLTALE MECHANISM FOR TANK CARS Filed Jan. 6, 1927 I INVENTOR BY jfl Patented Jan. 14, 1930 UNETED STATES PATENT ori-lcs RALPH E. WILDER, F BETHLEHEM, PENNSYLVANIA, ASSIGNOB, TO BETHLEI-IEM STEEL. COMPANY i TELLTALE MECHANISM FOR TANK CARS Application le January 6, 1927.. Sera1.1\1'o. 159,299.

My invention relates to discharge valve devices for tank cars used in transporting liquids.

The object of my vinvention is tofprovide a telltale device which will be operated by the movement of the valve and indicate whether or not the latter is in its open or closed position.

Another object of my invention is the pro vision of means which will act to prevent the seating of the cover for the opening` in the dome, except when the valve is completely closed.

In its broader aspects, my invention comprises a gate valve located at the bottom of the tank and operated by a handlever pivotally mounted in the dome of the tank. The handlever is operatively connected to the valve by means of a reach rod which extends beyond said lever suiiciently so that when the valve is open said rod extends above Vthe face of the dome cover seat and prevents the seating of the cover. f

The novel features of my invention will be more fully understood from the following description and claims taken with the drawings in which;

Fig. 1 is a partial longitudinal section of a tank car illustrating a valve device embody- 3G ing my invention;

Fig. 2 is a plan view of the valve device;

Fig. 3 is a partial front elevation of bracket for guiding the operating lever of the device;

Fig. 1 is a partial side elevation of the reach rod of the device.

Referring to the drawing; indicates the tank of car of usual construction; fo-r carrying liquids, having a dome 11 and a removable cover 12. The tank is provided with an outlet 18 and a valve device 14 which is of the gate type preferably of the form described in my co-pending application for Letters Patent, Serial No. 105658, filedApr. 30,1926.

The gate 15 of the valve device 14 is oonnected to the lower end of the reach rod 16 which extends upwardly into the dome 11 and The bracket 17 functions as aV guide for the reach rod 16 and pivotally supports the operating handle 18. The reach rod is thickened as at 19 and provided at this point with an elongated opening 20 through which the operating handle extends. rIhe bracket 17 is bent vertical upward and has an elongated slot 21 formed therein which functions as a guideway for the operating handle 18.

The slot 21 is widened at the upper end to provide the' shoulders 22 for supporting the handle 18 when the latter is moved to its uppermost position as hereinafterdescribed.

It will be noted that the major portion of the reach rod and the valve are positioned beyond the radius ofthe opening 23 in the dome, to give free access to the interior of the tank whenthe dome cover is removed. The upper end of the reach rod, beyond the thickened portion 19, is bent laterally and extends to a point within the radius of the opening 23 and, then upwardly to a position in which it is just clear of the under side of theicover 12 when the lvalve is in its closed position.

In operation,v assuming the cover 12 to be removed7 the handle 18 is raisedV andby virtue of its engagement with the upper end ofthe opening 20 causes the reach rod to lift and open the valve. In order to retain the latter inA this position; the handle is moved sidewise to rest on one of the shoulders 22; looseness of the pivotal bearing being suficient. to allow such movement. The shoulders 22 are beveled inwardly in such a manner that gravitation tends to hold the handle against the shoulder. y When the valve is in its open position, the upper end of the reach rod extends well beyond the seat of the cover 12, as shown in broken lines in Fig. 1, thus indicating clearly that the valve is in its open Vposition and .acts as warning against filling the tank. So long as the valve is incorrectly seated, the free end of the reach rod will prevent the cover from being seated and it will be necessary to close the valve completely before the cover can be fastened down.

It will be seen from the foregoing description that I have devised Va telltale device for a tank car which is ofV simple and rugged construction and not liable to get out of order. v

Y- lVhile-I have shown my invention in but one form, it will be obvious to those skilled in the art that it is not so limited, but is susceptible of various other changes and modifications without departing from the spirit thereof, and I desire, therefore, that only such limitations shall'y be placed thereupon as are imposed by the prior art or as are specifically set forth in the appended claims.

Havingthus described my inventionwhat I clairn as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is: Y

l. In a tank car having adomefpro'vided with an opening, the combination of a discharge valve, located beyondv the radiuslof said opening, a removable cover for said opening, a reach rod extendingv upwardly to' and within said dome and connected to said valve, abracket fixed to the Wall of said dome and provided with an aperture through which said reach rod'extends, said reach rod provided with a thickened' portionV in which is formed a slot, and a handle pivoted to'saidy bracket and extending through said slot, said reach'rodbeing bent laterally at a point above said thickened portion and extending laterally to al point within the-radius of said opening and then upwardly to a point in close proximity to said cover in its seated position, said bracket having its free end' bent upwardly and provided with an elongated opening to constitute a guide for said handle, said elongated slot being widened for a portion of its length at the upper end thereof to provide a shoulder'for supporting said handle when the latter is moved to its raised position.

2. In a tank carvhaving ay lling opening, the combination of a discharge valve located beyond the radius of said opening, a removable cover for said opening, an integral Vreach rod connected to said valve and extending upwardly and laterally to a point within the radius of said opening and then upwardly to a point in close proximity to said cover, anda handle adapted to raise said reach rod after said cover has been removed.v

In testimony whereof I hereunto-aiix my signature. p

RALPH E. WILDER i 

